SOME FINAL THOUGHTS FROM ROGER.....

“Holy Yucatan Peninsula Batman, the Davis’ rat pack is about to descend on this once sleepy vestige of Mexican culture.” “Huh, what, I was just nodding off my young, but always vibrant, companion.......were you bragging about my endowment or just fantasizing about my utility belt??” “Neither my masked marvel......go back to sleep.” (Damn he looks good in those grey tights and black cape).

Well, despite Batman and Robin’s lack of interest in this wedding renewal event, the rest of us are raring to go!! Can you imagine, all the food and alcohol you can consume??.....are they crazy??.....surely they’ve heard of Russell and Randy south of the border?? Yes, I know there is more to this event than “free” food and drink.....but you have to admit, it’s a pretty big draw.

As you know, the actual renewal ceremony will be on Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. on the beach. So please pace yourself in the drinking end of things so you can at least show up. Lest any of you worry about going into withdrawals, there will be a cocktail reception immediately following the ceremony. BTW, in case any of you want to challenge and/or defend anything I may have written about you in my “Spotlight” articles......or if you just want to take a shot, the reception will be the perfect opportunity. Just remember, unless I’m over served (once again), I’ll have the last shot!!

If you’re looking for an opportunity to “buy” your favorite travel hostess a drink, Diana enjoys a Pina Colada with a dark rum float or a shot of good tequila with lime and salt. God knows she deserves these given the many, many, many hours she has spent (to all hours of the night) at the computer writing the many blog articles so the rest of us will all know WTF is going on and/or what we’re doing. ‘Course now that I think about it you can also “buy” me drink too for all my lonely nights while these articles were being composed, written and posted for your benefit!!

See you at one of the bars!!

What Are Your FIVE?

Well you all have done a wonderful job preparing and getting ready. The juggling, double checking & crossing off the list is at a near end. I came across this article recently "5 Simple Ways to Make the Most of Your Vacation" that made me me reflect a little of our upcoming trip. Here are things that I thought would try and do to make the most of my getaway.

1. Leave my electronics! I'm not taking my laptop and turning my cell phone off once I get on that plane. Of course once, I land back in LAX...I'll turn it on so I can be available for our shuttle back home. Oh camera and my music...now that's a different story...so smile when I point & shoot!

2. Relax! Going with the flow and try to be patient....will be what I am going to aspire too. After all I'm on vacation, right?

3. Be Polite! We're not in the US of A and so the ways of doing things as well as the expectations will be different. Which is the beauty of visiting another country and experiencing a different world.

4. Have Fun & Enjoy! Its a week of my life and would like to make it count. Its not often we get to celebrate with friends & family.

5. Experience...already have this on my mind! Want to see the ruins, swim in sea garden of the Yucatan, savor the flavors of the Mayans and finely lavish in the luxury of our resort.

Now what are your five ?

CARDS ANYONE?

Anyone who hangs out with Roger or Diana knows that they love playing 'Progressive Rummy'.

Its a card game that is actually quite easy to learn and play. And the great thing about it is that you can actually drink, eat and play all at the same time, really! These things not necessarily in priority order, seem to be top choices for things to do with

the Davis'. So if you are incline to give it a try and join in. There will be a number of our guests on hand to teach you. So don't be afraid to inquire. So who are they you ask?...well, Buzz, Karen, Russell, Martie, Paul, Mike, Laura, Reagan, Fumi, Ani, Tim to name but just a few...

During this trip we will be having a bit of fun competition for those wanting to play. NO, of course it's optional. YES, it includes winners, prizes and verification of scores of course. You really thought we would trust you? Not when it comes to cards!...oh so now you want to play huh? Well join in, hang on to those scoresheets as we will be keeping track to determine the awards of the prize. Karen and Buzz has graciously accepted to assist us on this activity. And so check-in with them and ask them for the rules to win.

More specific details for this contest will be provided at the resort... Following is the rules for the game...but trust me, it's a lot easier to join in and pick it up from actually playing the game...it's not hard, really-give it a try!

PROGRESSIVE RUMMY GUIDELINES

1 standard playing deck of 52 cards plus 2 jokers (minimum) • 6 players maximum per 1 deck of cards

Object of the Game – Player with lowest point wins

RULES OF THE GAME

• Determine who will start the deal by turning cards face up in front of each player and the first player with a “Jack” is the first determined dealer.
• All cards are face value……Ace’s = 1 (with the exception for the first round in which the Ace is a wild card and worth 15 points……tens and face cards= 10 point each. Wild cards are worth 15 points including the Joker cards.
• Begin the first hand with “Aces” being wild; the second hand “Twos” are wild…..through Kings.
• Ace is always low as one , and never high King.
• Dealer deals 7 cards to each player, starting at his/her left.
• Dealer turns over the top card after dealing everyone 7. Dealer is the first to play by either taking the card turned over or drawing from the deck. If dealer gets a wild card, he/she has the option to keep it to play later.
• Object is to get rid of all cards in your hand with the lowest point value. You must initially have 25 points to lay down and can do so with a minimum of three of a kind (3 tens would work or 2 fives and a wild card, etc.) or a run of three or more of the same suit that add up to 25 points. You can also have two sets of three cards or more that add up to 25 points as well (Example; Game 5, Fives are wild, you can lay 3 Fours = 12 + 3 cards of the same suit, 5, 6, & 7 hearts = 18, your total points 12 + 18 = 30 to lay down, qualifies for 25 or more points).
• Once you lay down your initial 25 points, you must wait until your next turn to play cards in your hand on any other players “lay downs”. You may continue to lay down additional runs or three of a kind that are of any value on your turn. You may also exchange a card in your hand that is being used by a wild card on any of the “lay downs”….but the wild card taken from the table on others set lay down cards must be used at that time. You cannot hold the wild card for use in your hand for a subsequent turn.
• If you draw a wild card off the deck pile you have the option to use it or choose to play it later and keep in your hand till your decision to discard. Again remember, Wild Cards are worth 15 points!
• Once the draw card pile is gone, then the play is to go around one last time till a player cannot play in which case the game is over and everyone counts their points to tally or…
• The first player to get rid of all of their cards is the winner of that round. All other players get charged the number of points in their hands for the score sheet.
• At the end of the game (13 rounds……..Ace being the first round and the King is the last round) the player with the least number of points is the winner of that game.
• Each game must have a minimum of two players and a maximum of no more than six players.
• The winner of the 13 rounds will be the player with the lowest average for all games played.

Progressive Rummy... "Join Us" says Karen & Buzz!

PRIZES-FUN-PRIZES-PLAY-PRIZES-EASY -PRIZES-CARDS-PRIZES!

Did we tell you there were going to be prizes? Well come find Karen or Buzz as they have been recruited with coordinating the Progressive Rummy Game that Roger and Diana so love to play!

We will be handing out rules, scoresheets, playing cards & pen at the resort, so form a group or join in with any of us playing and enjoy the challenge and camaraderie. At the end of each game or at some point during the trip, turn in your scoresheets (be sure you identify the players) to Buzz or Karen. We will keep track of the highest ("Loser") and the lowest ("Winner") scores for the week and at the last night (Friday) happy hour cocktail time, prizes will be announced and

distributed. Since this is a celebration of their 20th year of marital bliss, Roger & Diana have decided to also have special prizes for anyone with a score that ends in '20, such as 20, 120, 220, 320 (you get the picture) or '90 as they got married in 1990!

So grab a drink, a snack and tanning lotion and meet us for some fun and entertainment. We'll be floating around throughout the week to help or coordinate games and root you on.

Cheers!

Karen & Buzz

Spotlight by Roger: "Ted & Alex"

All of you know Alex...at least her phone voice.....she is our very talented travel agent. You know, the one who is always asking for money and/or credit card numbers, giving out deadlines, setting up excursions, etc., etc. Well, the other half of this dynamic duo is Ted. Yes, they do have different last names but they’re still a happily married couple so hands off!! Ted is a gourmet chef having graduated from the French Culinary Institute of America and much like Colonel Sanders (you know, starting a new venture late in life) Ted just opened his very own “roach coach”. Of course this is no ordinary roach coach, more like a portable gourmet dining room appropriately named "Flavor Rush". Alex, being the good wife that she is, is helping Ted launch this new endeavor and for a closer look go their web site at http://www.lpelkey.net/FLAVOR_RUSH/index.html .

Alex will be one of Diana’s “Bridesmaids” and along with Ted is also a SCUBA diver. So, introduce yourself to Ted & Alex and stop to ponder this: “is there a whole new meaning to the age old expression......T & A ??? I wonder??

Spotlight by Roger: "RUSSELL & RANDY"

Although they’re both single and available, it seems only natural to write about them as a couple........but they’re not gay!! Their “relationship” has outlasted all of their marriages....combined and they still like each other. They both like to ride Harley’s and their favorite drink is Absolute vodka on the rocks (word to the wise here..DO NOT try to keep up with either one of them in the drinking department...you'll be very, very sorry). They are both retired and Russell lives in North Hollywood and Randy lives in Burbank. They get together at least once a week to eat Thai food, drink and perhaps watch the fights on T.V. Now, about this gay thing. Although the jury is still out, the latest claim is “metrosexual”. However, as noted on the T.V. show "Two and a Half Men", a metrosexual was defined by Charlie as a gay man who is not getting laid.....so the jury is still out.

Russell will be Roger’s Best Man and it will be a familiar role since Russell considers Laguna Beach his beach house and Diana considers Russell as her second husband. As noted above, both Randy and Russell enjoy drinking and having fun. So, given the fact that this resort provides “free” booze, don’t hang with these two unless you’re prepared for a lot of laughs and, of course, lots of drinks!

SPOTLIGHT SERIES by Roger

Allow me to take this opportunity to once again introduce my one & only hubby and the writer of our upcoming blog post series "SPOTLIGHT", by Roger ! In these upcoming future blog articles, Roger has graciously offered to contribute his creative writing abilities and fun sense of humor to introduce our guests who will be joining our 20th Anniversary Renewal.

So as Roger often says ... get comfortable, grab your favorite drink and return often to see if it's you're turn to be "Spotlighted". Our kick off series start with Karen and Buzz Vaughn as they have not missed any of our group social gathering or trips. What loyalty, huh? So please revisit us here as it could very well be YOU next....